Noticeboard

TRAINING DATES FOR 2017/18

The surgery will be closed for training on the following days:

Thursday 15th March 2018 1pm - 6pm

IF YOU NEED URGENT MEDICAL TREATMENT PLEASE dial 111FOR THE EMERGENCY SERVICE

The surgery and dispensary are open from:8.30am - 1pm & 2.00- 6pm Mon-Friday. Please telephone during these hours for an appointment. The doctors will normally be available to speak to patients between 11.30-12pm and 3.15-3.45pm

Disabled Access

We have recently had new electric doors installed to improve disabled access to our surgery. If you require further assistance please phone ahead or ring the doorbell by the front door.

Travelling abroad and live near Cambridge?

Harston Surgery Travel Clinic is now open to all, for all your travel health needs. Click on Travel information for more information

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT GIVE PRIVATE MENINGITIS B VACCINATION.

Out of hours emergencies are now triaged by the NHS 111 service who will arrange appropriate further care/advice. Out of hours please ‘phone 111, or the surgery on 01223 870250 and you will be transferred automatically. If you need immediate urgent medical help, phone 999.

Clinics and Services

Their aim is to support people who have, or have had, cancer by providing them with a meeting place in a warm, friendly environment, where they can meet each other, discover that they are not alone, and give one another mutual support. The Centre also welcome families, carers and friends.

For further information please telephone the Centre Co-ordinators (Kathy Dixon or Azra Krsic) on 01223 840105 or visit their website at www.cambridgecancerhelp.org

New Patient Health ChecksWe would like to meet all new patients who have recently registered with the practice so that we can make a note of your past medical problems, current medication and future needs, as well as for example, checking your blood pressure. Usually the check is done by a nurse, but if you have ongoing medical problems it is generally more appropriate to make an appointment with a doctor.

Temporary ResidentsIf your visitors normally live outside the area and need to see a doctor we can provide this service.

Smoking CessationAdvice and support are available from any of the clinical team. Nicotine replacement therapy and other medications are prescribable on the NHS and the benefits of stopping smoking are measurable (in health and financial ways) immediately. Feel free to make an appointment to discuss this. You may also self refer to local NHS smoking cessation services (free).

Contraception The nurses and doctors are all able to advise on all aspects of contraceptive care. You should ask to see Dr Ferrier if you wish to have a coil fitted. She also fits implants. We are very happy to offer emergency contraception if needed- this does indeed qualify as an emergency and we will be happy to fit you in. Should contraception fail, all regular doctors at the surgery can be consulted with respect to termination of pregnancy requests to discuss the necessary referral. Local family planning and sexual health information can also be found here.

Chlamydia Screening

This year the government is backing a campaign to reduce the number of sexually transmitted diseases amongst 15-24yr olds. At the surgery we will be encouraging this group of patients to undertake a simple self administered test which will screen for chlamydia. Please take the opportunity to get yourself screened for this treatable condition that can have serious long term effects on health and fertility if ignored.

Cervical SmearsThere is a computerised recall system for cervical smears which are generally taken every three years for women aged 25 -49 and every four and a half years thereafter unless there are problems. Either a doctor or a nurse can take a smear for you. It is as well to make a note of when your smear is next due. You will be informed of your result by letter.

ImmunisationsRoutine immunisations and travel vaccinations are performed by our practice nurses. The first baby immunisations are usually carried out at the post-natal check when the baby is 8 weeks old.

Diabetic clinicThese are run by Dr Allen and the nurses on a Wednesday morning twice monthly. All patients with diabetes are offered a check at least annually. Diabetic eye checks (also needed annually) are organised by the PCT. They will write to remind you that a check is due by one of their accredited optometrists; you may not choose whichever optician you like for this check. Their list is here. All diabetics should take a look at www.diabetes.org.uk for excellent advice on how to manage your diabetes.

Asthma clinics These are run by the practice nurses under supervision by the doctors. We aim to see all asthmatic patients at least once a year.

Minor SurgeryRemoval of "lumps and bumps" under local anesthetic, and freezing of warts and other lesions is carried out by Drs Allen and Gee. Please make an ordinary appointment first so that we can plan the best treatment. Unfortunately the CCG does not permit treatment of benign lesions which they class as cosmetic. Here are links to further information on their policies and exceptional cases procedure.

Pregnancy careThis is usually undertaken by our community midwife (Ros Greensmith) on Tuesday afternoons from 1-5 pm. Her contact details are here and she is a member of the Rose Team. If this is not convenient you can be seen in other locations on different days; contact the team to arrange this. Most routine antenatal care occurs in the community, with ultrasound scans at the hospital (usually the Rosie Maternity hospital on the Addenbrookes site).

Pregnant women are entitled to free NHS prescriptions and NHS dental care - the entitlement lasts until your baby is one year old. Details are here- if you think you are entitled but do not have an exemption card, please pop in to reception or dispensary and complete a form- we will then send it off for you.

Post natal examinations and baby checks These are carried out when the baby is eight weeks old. The first set of immunisations can be given at the same time. Please ask for a "post natal appointment".

Child Health Surveillance Regular developmental checks for children under five are done in conjunction with the Child and Family Nurses (previously called Health Visitors). At present the 6-8 week check is done by a doctor at the surgery. Older children's checks will be arranged directly by the Child and Family Nurses. You are welcome to contact them directly for advice about any child up to age 16. They may be contacted on (01763) 262861.

Physiotherapy We no longer have a physiotherapist in house as community physiotherapy services have been consolidated at bigger centres (including Chesterton Hospital, Sawston Health Centre, Cambourne Surgery and Addenbrookes). If you feel that physiotherapy is needed you may make an appointment to see a Doctor in the first instance who can make a referral to the physiotherapist if appropriate. However there is now a new service accepting self referrals from patients which has excellent results and will escalate your problem as necessary to hospital services (specialist physio, rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons or neurosurgeons) if simple physio is unable to improve your musculoskeletal problem and your condition warrants it. Simply ring the Physiodirect line any weekday between 1-5pm on 01223 446999. Or complete their referral form. Domiciliary physiotherapy can also be arranged for the truly housebound via this number

We are lucky to have some excellent private (non NHS) physiotherapists in our practice area who offer a first class service; there are group practices in Haslingfield and Hauxton. You may self refer, but it is important to have discussed your plans with your doctor in advance if an insurance form will need completing.

Non NHS work (reports, certificates, insurance forms, etc.) We have to make a charge for non-NHS services. Please ask the receptionist how much you will be asked to pay. Our current list of charges is available at Reception. Unfortunately as a dispensing practice it is mandatory for us to be VAT registered and thus must add VAT onto some charges to keep within the law. Whilst we are unhappy about this our hands are tied. Should you wish to highlight the iniquity of this issue (that much less frequently affects non-dispensing practices) then lobbying your local MP (who may well have responsibility for health service policy but has very limited experience of any of the practical issues the policies produce) would be a good place to start.

Dr Allen also runs an aesthetic clinic specialising in the treatment of unwanted frown lines, lip augmentation, skin rejuvenation and excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), using Botox®, dermal fillers (eg Restylane) and glycolic peels. For further information on this service or if you would like to book a consultation then please contact him via the comments box here, or visit www.cambridgeskinclinic.co.uk

CounsellingIt is often best to discuss things first with a doctor if you feel counselling may help, and in some cases we will suggest this as an appropriate course of action. Whilst we sadly do not have a counsellor at the surgery, availability on the NHS does exist but is generally limited to those with specific problems. Non-NHS organisations that provide counselling services locally we would recommend include Centre 33 (for anyone under 26 and is free), Relate Cambridge or Royston (for relationship issues), and more general counselling is provided by The Cogwheel Trust, Cambridge Group Therapy Centre or Mind. Other avenues for help are listed here.

For more specific mental health challenges (anxiety, depression, low self esteem, stress) then Psychological Therapy is often better than medication and the local trust is making huge inroads into making services more accessible. GPs will regularly recommend this approach and whilst they may refer you themselves would encourage patients to self refer; 'doing something about it' yourself often makes you feel more positive about being able to deal with the problem from an earlier stage - and progress reflects this!